Vacherie man booked in May 27 shooting, victim remains hospitalized

VACHERIE — A Vacherie man remained in St. James Parish Prison on Tuesday after sheriff’s deputies arrested him over the weekend on attempted second-degree murder and other counts in a shooting that sent another man to the hospital.

St. James Parish Sheriff’s Maj. Sid Berthelot said in a statement that Lavell Gant, 36, 1218 Old Vacherie St., Vacherie, was in a confrontation with Ansley Jackson, 31, early on the morning of May 27.

Jackson, 2157 Church St., Vacherie, was shot in the leg shortly before 5 a.m. at home. By the time deputies arrived, Jackson had lost a lot of blood and had to be taken by air to a New Orleans hospital, Berthelot said. Berthelot, who leads the sheriff’s Criminal Investigation Division, said Jackson remained at the hospital Tuesday in stable condition.

Without saying what it was, Berthelot said sheriff’s deputies found evidence at Gant’s home directly linking him to the scene of the shooting.

Gant was arrested and booked into parish jail Saturday with counts of attempted second-degree murder, possession of a stolen firearm, disturbing the peace, carrying of a firearm by a convicted felon and aggravated assault, Berthelot said.